COON RAPIDS, Minn. – Last year Coon Rapids became the first city in Minnesota to require all gasoline purchases to be pre-paid. The ordinance was aimed at stopping thefts of gas in the city. The ordinance has been successful in that goal as there have been no reported gas drive offs since the ordinance went into effect.
However, gas stations in the city have seen a decline in gasoline sales by up to 23% since the ordinance went into effect. Inside sales at the stations has also dropped by as much as 15%.
The MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce presented these findings to the Coon Rapids City Council last week and asked the council to repeal the ordinance. A majority of the council supported the idea of a repeal and a vote will be taken no later than April 16.
